Balwant Singh Rajoana: Death row convict urges swift decision on mercy plea

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict on death row for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, was brought to the Government Dental College for treatment and wants his case decided.

While he was being taken to the hospital amidst tight security, Rajoana said that he has spent nearly 30 years in prison, with 18 years on death row.

The mercy petition has also been pending for over 14 years.

"Even the Supreme Court has been asking the government for over five years to decide the matter. I want there to be no further delay and for the matter to be decided," said Rajoana.

A plea for commutation of his death sentence has been pending for years.

The Supreme Court recently criticised the delay and questioned why the execution had not been carried out.

The Union government, in its response, has argued that the mercy plea was filed by others, not Rajoana himself, which contributed to the delay.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has actively advocated for Rajoana’s release.

A delegation led by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami met him in Patiala Jail to discuss the mercy plea.

He said that it is a grave injustice not to decide on the matter for nearly two decades after his conviction.

Rajoana has urged the Akal Takht Jathedar, Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, not to wait and to take the next course of action to restore the honour of the community.

He added that the impression was given that the SGPC failed in pursuing the matter. A former Punjab Police constable, Rajoana was convicted for involvement in the assassination of Beant Singh, who was killed on August 31, 1995, by suicide bomber Dilawar Singh Babbar.

Rajoana was the backup bomber in case the primary plan failed. He was sentenced to death by a special CBI court in 2007, but Rajoana did not challenge the order and did not file a mercy petition either.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal had earlier urged the central government to recommend commutation to the President, citing Rajoana’s prolonged incarceration and the sentiment of the Sikh community.